Conformity - types and explanations

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  • Created by: AK
  • Created on: 13-11-17 09:34
Conformity
A change in a persons behaviour or opinions as a result of real or imagined pressure from a person or group of people
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Internalisation
A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct
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Identification
A moderate type of conformity where we act the same way with the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. But we don't necessarily agree with everything the majority believes
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Compliance
A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us
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Informational Social Influence (ISI)
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it to be correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation
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Normative Social Influence (NSI)
An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we want to be accepted, gain social approval and be liked. This may lead to compliance
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nAffiliators
People who have a greater need for 'afiliation' - a need for being in a relationship with others
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Evaluation - research support for ISI
Lucas et al. asked students to give anwers to maths problems that were harder or easier. Most students who rated their maths ability as poor had greater conformity for harder questions, and less conformity for easier questions
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Evaluation - individual differences in NSI
Some research shows that NSI doesn't affect everyone's behaviour in the same way. For example people who care less about being liked are less affected by NSI than those who want to be liked. People who want to be liked are called nAffiliators
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Evaluation - ISI and NSI work together
The idea of Deutsch and Gerrard's two-process approach is that behaviour is either due to NSI or ISI. In fact, more often both processes are involved e.g. in Asch experiment with different confederate, less confomity could have been ISI or NSI
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Evaluation - Individual differences in ISI
ISI doesn't affect everyone's behaviour in the same way. e.g. Asch found students were less conformist than other participants, however in another study with engineering students there was very little conformity
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Evaluation - Research support for NSI
Asch found participants went along with a wrong answer just because others did. When asked, the participants said it was because they felt self-conscious giving the wrong answer and were afraid of disapproval
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A deep type of conformity where we take on the majority view because we accept it as correct

Back

Internalisation

Card 3

Front

A moderate type of conformity where we act the same way with the group because we value it and want to be a part of it. But we don't necessarily agree with everything the majority believes

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A superficial and temporary type of conformity where we outwardly go along with the majority view, but privately disagree with it. The change in our behaviour only lasts as long as the group is monitoring us

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

An explanation of conformity that says we agree with the opinion of the majority because we believe it to be correct. We accept it because we want to be correct as well. This may lead to internalisation

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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